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The first world exposition to be staged in Asia, Expo '70, featuring the theme of "progress and harmony for mankind," was held over the 183-day period of March 15th-September 13th. Held on a site of roughly 330 hectares in the Senrikyuryo area of Osaka, the event featured exhibitors from 76 countries, four international organizations, one foreign government (Hong Kong), three U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, two U.S. cities, one German city, two corporations, and 32 domestic organizations. Expo '70 attracted more than 64,000,000 visitors--setting a new record for world expos and rendering the event a tremendous success.
| Duration | 183 days: Sunday, March 15th-Sunday, September 13th, 1970 |
|---|---|
| Theme | "Progress and harmony for mankind" |
| Participants from overseas | 76 countries, four international organizations, one foreign government (Hong Kong), three U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, two U.S. cities, one German city, and two corporations |
| Domestic participants | 32 organizations, 32 pavilions (The Japanese government, the Preparatory Committee of the Local Governments' Pavilion for the Japan World Exposition, two public enterprises, and 28 private companies) |
| No. of visitors | 64,218,770 (a record for world expos) Highest number of visitors recorded for a single day: 836,000 (Saturday, September 5th) Average number of visitors per day: 350,000 |
| Venue space | 330 hectares |
| Admission | Adults (23 yrs & up): ¥800 Youth (15-22 yrs): ¥600 Children (4-14 yrs): ¥400 (Average monthly income at the time: ¥50,000) |
Expo '70 served as a stage for the theme of progress and harmony for mankind. The event featured a number of exhibits that strove to portray the ideals of the human race, particularly the difficult issue of reconciling progress and harmony. The Tower of the Sun (Taiyo-no-to) served as a brilliant symbol of Expo '70 as the origin of this concept. Located near the center of the "symbol zone," an area designed specially to express the expo theme, the monument towered over the massive roofs of the Festival Plaza at a height of 65 meters.
Festive events held in the outdoor spaces and halls proved perfect representations of "the harmony of mankind." A host of attractions were staged primarily at the Festival Plaza, while some were held at the Expo Hall, the Water Stage, the Festival Hall, the outdoor theater, and more, with the total number of performances reaching 2,880. The Festival Plaza, acting as a point of interaction for people from around the world, was host to some 270,000 performers, and more than 10 million guests.
The 183 days of the Expo were full of new surprises and moving scenes.
The total number of visitors to Expo '70 from around Japan and the world came to 64,218,770. There was even a day when more than 830,000 people descended on the site, necessitating limits on the number admitted. During this period, 75 hectares of parking space were filled with 2,811,995 vehicles. There were also 48,139 cases of lost children, 125,778 people who went temporarily missing, 54,154 cases of lost items, 11,350 cases of emergency patients, including a woman who went into labor at the expo, and so on, all of which serve to illustrate the animated atmosphere of Expo '70.
The Council on Utilization of the Former Expo Site, consisting of representatives from various fields, was formed to discuss the issue of what to do with the venue space following the conclusion of the expo. Based on the findings of the council, the Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition '70 ("COJWE") came to the conclusion that the conversion of the area into a verdurous cultural park would appropriately commemorate the great success of Expo '70.
A portion of the earnings derived from Expo '70 have been allocated to projects deemed to appropriately commemorate the success of the expo. At present, these funds are utilized to assist projects in a range of fields, including cultural, science, and educational projects, both in Japan and overseas. The assistance is broad-based, reaching a wide spectrum of recipients, from grass-roots projects to international cooperation initiatives.
Prior to the exposition, the site was a magnificent natural setting featuring nostalgic pastoral scenery, bamboo forests, and fields. Yet, to make way for the exposition, and the kind of affluent urban life that the people dreamed of, this environment was destroyed. The theme of Expo '70, "progress and harmony for mankind," embodied the hope that mankind would continue on its course of development while fostering harmony between the peoples of the world, and between mankind and the environment. Following the end of Expo '70, the site was converted back to a natural state through the efforts of many individuals. It is now a multifunctional cultural park, combining cultural, sporting, and leisure facilities, all surrounded by greenery. Park development and natural forest restoration projects have also been initiated.
In addition to exhibiting the progress of technology, Expo '70 also provided the opportunity for cultural exchange between different regions. The Fund allocates a portion of Expo '70 revenues as assistance for Japanese cultural projects overseas, such as dramatic performances, construction of Japanese gardens, purchase of Japanese language study materials and equipment or books on Japan, and more. In Japan, meanwhile, the Japan World Exposition Commemorative Fund Project ("JEC Fund Project") supports a diverse array of cultural, science, and educational projects ranging from local community projects to international initiatives including, for example, projects to perpetuate traditional Japanese culture, international science conferences, etc. Ever since the year after the Expo '70 event, the JEC Fund Project has assisted a total of 3,919 projects, providing ¥18 billion in support.
COPYRIGHT 2000～ Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition '70